Synopsis
Taeko Okajima is a 27-year-old, independent woman who has lived her entire life in Tokyo. Seeking to unwind from city life, she decides to visit her family in the countryside during the safflower harvest. On the train, Taeko's memories as a schoolgirl in the early stages of puberty come flooding back. A young farmer named Toshio picks her up at the station, and they quickly develop a friendship. During her stay, Taeko forms strong bonds with family and friends, learning the contrasts between urban and rural life, as well as the struggles and joys of farming. 'Only Yesterday' is a nostalgic and bittersweet journey of an adult woman coming to terms with her childhood dreams and the person she has become.
'Only Yesterday' is a 1991 Japanese animated drama film directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Toshio Suzuki. Based on the manga by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone, it explores a genre traditionally thought to be outside the realm of animated subjects: a realistic drama written for adults, particularly women. The film was a surprise box office success, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1991 in the country. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, GKIDS released the film for the first time in an English-language format in 2016.
